Yellowstone Volcano Expert Receives Prestigious Award for Contributions to Volcanology

Strategic Insights -

Madison Myers, a volcanologist at Montana State University, has been recognized for her significant contributions to the field of volcanology with an early career award from the Geological Society of America's Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Petrology and Volcanology Division. Myers, an associate professor in MSU's Department of Earth Sciences, has spent years studying the volcano that underlies Yellowstone National Park, effectively communicating scientific research to the public and mentoring the next generation of scientists.

Key Takeaways:

  • Madison Myers is the first recipient from Montana State University to receive the early career award from the Geological Society of America's Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Petrology and Volcanology Division since its establishment in 2015.
  • Myers has conducted research on the Yellowstone volcano, monitoring its geological and volcanological elements, including earthquake frequency and locations, and the configuration of magma underneath the park's thermal features.
  • She has been instrumental in facilitating the university's entry into the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory in 2020, a consortium that brings together nine collaborating institutions to monitor the geological and volcanological elements of Yellowstone.
  • Myers has received a prestigious CAREER award from the National Science Foundation, which allowed her to outfit her lab with state-of-the-art equipment for measuring and simulating the makeup of magma.
  • Her work has also enabled her to provide hands-on research opportunities for undergraduate students, with her REU program receiving over 100 applications annually.
  • Myers has been nominated for multiple awards recognizing her work promoting gender equity and inclusion in science, technology, engineering, and math; student mentoring; and undergraduate research.

Statistics:

  • 70,000 years: the last time Yellowstone volcano erupted.
  • 2015: the year the early career award from the Geological Society of America's Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Petrology and Volcanology Division was established.
  • 2020: the year Montana State University joined the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
  • 2021: the year Myers received a prestigious CAREER award from the National Science Foundation.
  • 100: the average number of applications received annually for her REU program.

Sources:

  • "Madison Myers Receives Prestigious Award for Contributions to Volcanology" by News Reporter-Staff News Editor, VerticalNews Health, November 2, 2025
  • "Madison Myers: A Volcanologist at the Forefront of Yellowstone Research," Montana State University Department of Earth Sciences (date not specified)
  • "Early Career Award for Madison Myers," Geological Society of America's Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Petrology and Volcanology Division (date not specified)
  • "CAREER Award for Madison Myers," National Science Foundation (date not specified)